Work has started on Exeter's new multi-million pound bus station and leisure complex in the heart of the city.

Exeter City Council has produced a time-lapse film showing diggers and workmen beginning the huge scheme which will transform the ageing bus station site.

The 12-second clip shows machinery excavating the car park at the rear of the site near the Vue cinema.

The groundwork is the very first stage of an ambitious scheme which will kickstart the council-funded St Sidwell Point Leisure Centre and the new bus and coach station.

The current stop was built in 1964 and has long been earmarked for replacement.

Plans for the pool

The council Facebook page asks the question: "Anyone notice that work has started? In 2 years time, there will be a brand new bus station and leisure centre here."

In December councillors gave their backing to release an extra £12million for the scheme, pushing the overall cost to £52million.

They hope it will be money well spent and allow them to attract further investment. They want a development partner to deliver a £300million multi-purpose scheme with houses, shops, hotels and a performance venue.

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St Sidwell's Point Leisure Centre

The wider regeneration scheme includes 250 build-to-rent homes on Sidwell Street, a four star hotel opposite John Lewis, a budget hotel in Sidwell Street, relocation of the Civic Centre, which would then be turned into homes, a new office quarter, food, drink and retail outlets, a new square and civic space in Paris Street, and the potential for a multi-purpose performance venue, with a capacity of around 1,200 seated or up to 2,500 standing.

Paris Street may be pedestrianised as part of the plans.

The new plans

The new Exeter Bus Station will include covered waiting and boarding areas and high quality facilities. The council say the leisure centre will be state-of-the-art and built to an innovative Passivhaus design.

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At a meeting just before Christmas Cllr Pete Edwards, leader of the council, said: “I think it is great value for money. The cost has gone up, but this frees us up to do what we want with the rest of the site and it will be a great opportunity for the city.”

Exeter Bus Station redevelopment: layout plan of how area could be transformed

The proof that work has started on the bus station will hopefully demonstrate to developers that Exeter is serious about its ambitions for the future.

Cllr Phil Bialyk, Lead Councillor with Responsibility for Bus Station Redevelopment, said: “The new vision for the redevelopment of this site has been widely welcomed.

“It has been a long term aim of the council to create a much needed new leisure complex and bus station, and we look forward to the main construction work starting on site very soon.”